The city of Yiwu in Zhejiang has put 20 on-demand buses on the road as a trial. Unlike a normal bus that follows a fixed line, these small buses go where people actually need them. The service covers about 29 square kilometers in the city. Riders no longer wait at a crowded stop for a bus that may not fit their plan.
Using the new buses is simple. A passenger opens a phone app, sets a start point and a destination, and the system sends the nearest minibus. The bus then picks up several riders along a flexible route. This is like a shared taxi, but cheaper and open to everyone. For short trips inside the covered area, it saves both time and walking.
The model helps the city as well as the rider. Traditional buses often run half empty, wasting fuel and money. On-demand buses carry only the people who book, so fewer trips are wasted. They also suit places where there are not enough passengers for a full bus line. In this way, the service is both convenient and friendly to the environment.
Yiwu’s trial shows a clear trend in Chinese cities. Smart tools are changing public transport from a one-size-fits-all service into something that fits each neighbourhood. If the trial works well, more cities may follow. The humble bus is learning to listen to its riders.
Words to know:
- on-demand (按需的)
- trial (试运行)
- fixed (固定的)
- destination (目的地)
- flexible (灵活的)
- fuel (燃料)
- neighbourhood (社区)
- trend (趋势)
长难句拆解 · 分词作主语与从句
Using the new buses is simple. 主干：Using… is simple. 动名词短语 Using the new buses 作主语，谓语 is，表语 simple。直译：使用这些新巴士是简单的。
Unlike a normal bus that follows a fixed line, these small buses go where people actually need them. 主干：buses go. unlike… 是比较状语，其中 that follows… 是定语从句修饰 bus；where people need them 是地点状语从句。直译：与沿固定线路行驶的正常巴士不同，这些小巴士去人们真正需要它们的地方。
同义替换 · 雅思阅读利器
阅读中同义替换频繁出现，熟记下列几组。
- put … on the road → launch / roll out（「上线、投放」的替换）
- follow a fixed line → run on a set route（「固定线路」的同义表达）
- set a destination → choose an endpoint / pick a drop-off（「设目的地」的替换）
- save time → cut down travel time / reduce waiting（「省时」的雅表达）
- waste fuel → burn excess energy / consume needlessly（「浪费燃料」的升级）
- fit each neighbourhood → match local needs / suit the area（「适配社区」的替换）
- humble → modest / ordinary（「朴实」的近义替换）
阅读自测 · 3 题
- T/F/NG: Yiwu’s on-demand buses cover the whole city of Zhejiang.
- 简答: How does a rider call an on-demand bus? (Answer in one phrase)
- 选词: On-demand buses are ______ to the environment than traditional buses. (A. friendlier B. worse C. no different)
参考答案与解析
- NG. 原文说覆盖义乌约 29 平方公里，并非整个浙江省；题干把「covered area」偷换成「whole Zhejiang」，范围不符，文中未断言，故 NG。
- By opening a phone app and setting start and destination. 第二段说明乘客用 App 设起终点即可叫车。
- A. friendlier。第三段指出该服务「friendly to the environment」，且比传统空驶巴士更环保，worse / no different 属偷换结论。
中文译文
浙江义乌已投放 20 辆网约公交进行试运营。与沿固定线路行驶的传统巴士不同，这些小巴士会去人们真正需要的地方。服务覆盖城区约 29 平方公里。乘客再不必在拥挤的站台苦等一辆未必合自己行程的公交车。
使用新巴士很简单。乘客打开手机应用，设定起点与终点，系统便派最近的迷你巴士前往。巴士随后沿灵活路线顺路接上几位乘客。这像一辆共享出租车，却更便宜、对所有人开放。在覆盖区内的短途出行中，它既省时间又少走路。
这一模式对城市与乘客都有好处。传统巴士常常空载过半，白白耗费燃油与资金。网约公交只载已预约的人，因此少了许多空驶。它也适合那些客流不足以支撑整条线路的地方。如此一来，这项服务既便民又环保。
义乌的试运营展现了中国城市一个清晰的趋势。智能工具正把公共交通从「一刀切」的服务，变成贴合每个社区需求的形式。若试运营顺利，更多城市可能跟进。平凡的巴士，正在学会倾听乘客。